Homosexuality is the sexual and/or romantic attraction of an individual to another of the same gender and/or the same sex. Save for sexual orientation, homosexuals share all the varieties of humanity with heterosexuals, who are attracted to the other sex, or bisexuals, who might be attracted to people of either sex. There are no tangible social, moral, or cultural differences shared by all gay people that would somehow differentiate any gay individual from their culture at large.

Homosexuality has a very long history, being written about and depicted since the invention of writing and depicting respectively. Notably, homosexuality was depicted in ancient Greece, China and Japan, thousands of years ago. Homosexuality is also found in virtually every culture around the world, as well as numerous non-human animal species.

In modern English, and the US in particular, the word "gay" usually refers to homosexual men, whereas "lesbian" refers only to homosexual women (occasionally "gay" refers to both). It's important to know that "Gay" is also an ordinary family name[2][3] or given name[4] and even name of places[5]) Many other words are also used, and while some are crude epithets used only by bigots, many of these same words have arguably been reclaimed by homosexuals in order to neutralize them; however they may still be used effectively by these same bigots in order to demean homosexuals. Examples of the latter include "queer", "dyke" and, to a lesser extent, "fag". Notably, sex advice columnist Dan Savage, who is gay, used to have his letter writers address him as "Hey Faggot".[citation needed]

"Men who have sex with men" is a term for men who choose to have sex with men, whether or not they actually self-identify as gay or bisexual[6] – examples may include sex workers, prisoners, sailors, or people who just like a little man-on-man action every now and again but who don't see that behavior as part of a broader gay identity.

The term was created in the 1990s by epidemiologists in order to study the spread of disease among men who have sex with men, regardless of identity,[6] and is often used in clinical settings such as in the prevention and treatment of STDs, where a person's sexual history is more relevant than their orientation.

Outside of medicine, it is often seen as a reduction of gay identity to just a mere sex life. ("Straight" people are not considered "men who have sex with women" or vice versa.)

It is a common stereotype (a mistake even made by "gay-friendly" people) that most gay men can be easily identified as the best dressed males in the room, and their uncanny ability to color coordinate. This stereotype includes admitting that, like blacks, they are also usually the best dancers at any club. Continuing in this vein of innuendo, if a man can see the colors fuchsia, periwinkle, chartreuse, or identify more than three shades of white there is a 98.74539475%[note 1] chance he is gay. There also exists a widely-believed stereotype, even perpetuated within gay culture, that gay men can be identified by a certain accent or way of walking, both of which are perceived as less masculine. (In practice, this is usually put on by them as a subcultural sign for other gay men to identify them, for mutually beneficial cock.) Most of these stereotypes can be easily explained by pure ignorance about what homosexuality is, while others can be seen as instances of the toupée fallacy. For example, it is easy to target gay men who act feminine, while is harder to target gay men who do not, and therefore one can incorrectly infer that all gay men act feminine.

It is felt that lesbians are harder to identify[citation needed] — but skilled 'phobes know that you can always tell them by their sensible shoes, the emasculated male rottweiler they own, the chainsaw they keep in the trunk of their car,[note 2] or just by being butch tomboys.

Contrary to the paranoid worries of many such bigots, most gay or bisexual men do not want to touch them. At all. Ever.

Similarly, most queer women and lesbians will never want to touch them either.[note 3]

(It must also be noted that most people in general will not want to touch them.)

It is quite difficult to estimate the percentage of homosexual among the population. The main problem is that there is no easy way to know the sexual orientations of a large sample of people if not by asking them; but many answers can be insincere due to stigmas and fears associated to homosexuality, even if the survey is anonymous. Another problem is correctly formulating the question. For example, asking "have you ever had same-sex sexual intercourse?" is a bad method to count homosexuals because, on the one hand, it includes a lot of non-homosexuals (bisexuals, sex workers, rape victims...) and, on the other hand, excludes some homosexuals (virgins and homosexuals living a heterosexual life).

According to a 2011 study by the Williams Institute, about 1.7% of U.S. population identified as lesbian or gay, whereas 11% acknowledged at least some same sex sexual attraction.[7] Similarly, the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey reported that about the 1.7% of Canadians aged 18 to 59 consider themselves as homosexuals.[8]

There may be genes that predispose men, and perhaps women, to be gay. Research is actively being done but the results are so far inconclusive. It appears environment has an effect as well. A so-called "gay gene," XQ28, was reported as having an influence on sexual orientation. However, the original study failed to be replicated.[10]

The mechanisms which cause an individual to develop a particular sexual orientation are still largely unknown, although most researchers consider it unlikely that any one particular gene or environmental influence is a dominant factor. Prenatal environment has been implicated as one factor.[11] Notably, this means that even though sexual orientation is not completely genetic (as demonstrated by identical twins with different orientations), many people may still be born immutably gay. As suggested by some, prenatal hormonal treatment may have an impact on the fetus's sexual orientation, possibly reducing the probability of homosexuality[12].

Based on a reinterpretation of prior studies, a new hypothesis proposes that epigenetics plays a role in homosexuality. [13] Among the possible explanations are that these epigenetic factors change a person's sensitivity to androgens, thereby altering their orientation.[14]

The super-uncles theory, or, more properly, the super-uncles hypothesis proposes that homosexuality evolved as a way of providing additional caregivers for children. In the event that a parent died, a gay relative could serve as a surrogate parent, since he would not be occupied with caring for children of his own. It is based on a single long running study on the Pacific island of Samoa which studied women, straight men, and the Fa'afafine, who are men who prefer other men as sexual partners and are considered a third gender category.[15][16]

This role, unique to the island, has been part of the culture for many years. Native Samoans state that applying the definition of homosexuality to Fa'afafine is incorrect.[17] It is pointed out that Fa'afafine will have relationships with men/woman, but never other Fa'afafine, and homosexuality as a concept doesn't exist on Samoa.[18]

Soy. Or so says a WND columnist and Christian minister called Jim Rutz.[24] His reasoning is that soy contains phytoestrogens, which is like taking estrogen supplements. Which will make you gay. A 2008 meta-analysis in Fertility and Sterility says that soy-based phytoestrogens do not increase the estrogen level in men, or decrease testosterone levels.[25] Plus, you know, the Japanese eat shitloads of soy and they still seem to not have run out of heterosexuals. Paul Joseph Watson of Prison Planet has taken Rutz' stupid idea and run with it, turning it into the insult "soy boy".

Lack of physical fitness. That's the theory of John Sullivan, Gloucestershire local election candidate for United Kingdom Independence Party, who evidently has never met a Muscle Mary or a gym bunny.[26]

Like every aspect of personal life, religions have something to say about homosexuality and - surprise, surprise - usually it is not good. Two things about religions and homosexuality are worth noting. First, religious view of homosexuality may have changed with time, so that a particular religion may have been more or less tolerant of homosexuality in the past than nowadays. Second, many religious texts/prophets do not - technically - speak about homosexuality, because that word simply did not exist, but instead use other terms referring to non-strictly heterosexual and procreative sexual activities (sodomy, promiscuity, sexual misconduct, impure acts...) Therefore, instead of indulging in historical and semantics discussions, below we try to summarize the current views on homosexuality by the major religions, how they are today and how they are intended by their followers and religious leaders.

Buddhism: The third of the Five Precepts of Buddhist ethics is "To refrain from committing sexual misconduct." In 1997, during a press conference, the 14th Dalai Lama, after being asked whether or not homosexuality is acceptable in Buddhism, responded that "it is sexual misconduct."[30] However, in 2014 the Dalai Lama changed his position, saying that: "So there are different forms of sex – so long (as it is) safe, OK, and (if both people) fully agree, OK."[31]

Christianity: most of the Christian denominations do not accept homosexuality and consider gay sex a sinful act. Among them there are: The Roman Catholic Church[32], which teaches that homosexuals must practice chastity,[33] the Eastern Orthodox church,[34] the Oriental Orthodox churches,[35] the Lutherans,[36][37][38][39]Jehovah's Witnesses[40] and Mormons.[41] However, there are less mainstream Christian denominations which do not consider homosexuality as a sin and which are also supportive of gay rights, for example: the United Church of Canada and the United Church of Christ.[42]

Islam: All major Islamic schools disapprove homosexuality,[43] and consider same-sex desires as an unnatural temptation.[44] Many Islamic leaders condemn homosexuality, among them: Iran's current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said that "There is no worst form of moral degeneration than [homosexuality]",[45] and Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Iraq.[46] In a 2016 poll of 1,081 British Muslims, 52% said that "Homosexuality should be illegal in Britain", and 47% said that "It is not acceptable for a homosexual person to be a teacher in a school".[47]

Rainbow flag. Initially designed for gay pride, it has since been adopted as an umbrella symbol for all LGBT people. Originally designed in 1978, the current version was adopted in 1979. It should not be confused with the Flag of Cuzco, which looks very similar.

Pink triangle. Used by the Nazis to denote gay prisoners, the pink triangle is now a gay pride symbol.

The black triangle is a lesbian pride symbol. The symbol allegedly originates from the Nazis. Individuals deemed "asocial" had to wear the black triangle. However, Nazis records show nothing of the black triangle having been imposed on lesbians.

Lower-case lambda. Several gay rights organizations, such as Lambda Legal and the Lambda Literary Award derive their names from the use of a lower-case lambda as a symbol for gay and lesbian rights.

An inverted pink triangle surrounded by a green circle, as used to symbolize alliance with gay rights and space free from homophobia. Used mainly to signify safe spaces.

Bear brotherhood flag

White knot. This is the symbol of White Knot for Equality, a pro-same sex marriage organization.

Lipstick lesbian flag.

Purple rhino, a gay rights symbol used in the 1970s, mostly fallen out of use

The labrys was adopted as a lesbian symbol (and general feminist and goddess symbol) in the 1970s. It seems to be mainly used by radical feminist lesbians these days. It is also used a symbol for things other than lesbianism. Bear context in mind.

Lesbian labrys pride flag, mostly fallen out of use

Women romantically interested in women used violets to the woman they were wooing, symbolizing their "Sapphic" desire. In a poem, Sappho described herself and a lover wearing garlands of violets. The giving of violets was popular from the 1910s to the 1950s.[48]

Blue star. Supposedly historically used by butch lesbians, but there is little documented evidence to suggest that this has been the case.